Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his players were left to play keepy-up with a hand grenade in responding to the Kop’s venomous reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave for Real Madrid.
The ferocity of the booing for the outgoing vice-captain was undeniably harsh given his stellar contribution over 20 years at Anfield, especially the last eight as a legendary figure in the club re-establishing itself as a Premier League and Champions League force. A response was anticipated, but not to such an extent that it would bring the party atmosphere to such a grinding halt, the title celebrations surrendering to what amounted to a public flogging.